One Foot in, One Foot Out: Nearly Half of the Nation ‘Enjoyed’ Being at Home During Lockdown as They Felt More in Control of their Lives

New research from Samsung SmartThings reveals that even though people are getting back in the swing of things, half of the population is not fully comfortable leaving the house due to concerns about life admin and lack of control on the go

LONDON, UK, 21^st September 2021 – As the UK reopens and life gradually returns to ‘normal’, new research has revealed that many people are experiencing natural concerns when they leave the house. Whether it’s socialising in groups or leaving home more often to ‘work-on-the-go’, half (50%) of the population admit they are not fully comfortable leaving the house with worries about being able to get back in the swing of socialising (35%), with situations like losing things (34%) and having less control (32%) holding them back.

And despite the nation’s longing for social gatherings during the pandemic, it appears that Brits have gotten used to the convenience of being at home with nearly half (47%) stating they actually “enjoyed” being at home during lockdown, resulting in two in five (41%) saying they’re so used to being at home, they’re now not ready to leave.

The new research, commissioned by Samsung SmartThings, has also revealed that with over a year of having everything within arm’s reach, a quarter (24%) now don’t know how they are going to keep their homes in order with the world opening up again. With many people wanting one less thing to worry about, a third (33%) say they want to be able to be connected and in control of their homes, appliances and track belongings remotely for that extra peace of mind, with nearly a half (48%) open to technologies to support.

SmartThings is a free service which enables customers to control their homes and connected devices from the convenience of their smartphone, smartwatch, tablet or computer when on the go, helping to keep on top of things when leaving the house.

Teg Dosanjh, Director of Connected Services and Technology, Samsung UK and Ireland, said: “Our research has shown just how accustomed to being at home the UK population has become, and just as technology has helped get the nation through lockdown, it can also help people take small steps to get back out into the world, knowing their homes and connected devices are in their full control.”

The survey also revealed that Brits may have gotten a little rusty with their social and personal safety etiquette following 18 months of on and off lockdowns. So, it’s no surprise to learn that being out and about again has seen a shift towards people losing their belongings more often.

A third of the population (34%) are more worried about losing things like smartphones, laptops or keys since the easing of lockdown restrictions, and the majority (61%) think they are more likely to lose things if working ‘on the go’. One in four even said they have lost or misplaced personal belongings more often since the pandemic – with the average person spending an hour a week searching for lost items, which is the equivalent to two days every year.

As more people begin to return to the office with increasingly hybrid work schedules, these trepidations about losing control of things at home or losing items are only likely to intensify.

However, the survey also showed that people are more open to tech-powered solutions or gadgets to help them stay in control of their daily lives, as 41% of people said they would feel less worried about losing their personal belongings if they were able to track them, or even share the location of them with their friends or family (40%). Something many of us don’t think about, until it’s too late.

Within the SmartThings platform, SmartThings Find is available to help customers track down lost smart devices, and with the launch of SmartTag and SmartTag+, customers can attach the compact accessory to everyday belongings like wallets, bags or keys, which can also be tracked via the platform. Meanwhile, the added feature of SmartThings Find Members can deliver extra peace of mind to people by sharing the location of their Galaxy devices with family and friends.

“With almost half of Brits saying they’re open to using newer forms of technology if it makes their life easier, it’s clear that smart technologies or platforms such as SmartThings can play a role in helping people find their feet as they start to move further away from their home, whether it’s tracking lost items, monitoring the home remotely or simply keeping people connected,” added Teg Dosanjh.

SmartThings connects your entire home and puts control into your hands via the SmartThings app. As an open ecosystem, SmartThings can integrate with hundreds of smart devices from Ring doorbells to Arlo / Nest security cameras to help you keep an eye on your home, or control your Samsung connected appliances wherever you may be. Functionality within the app includes:

• SmartThings Find – Will scan for your devices and even show you a map with detailed information, including addresses and timestamps. You can also share device information with other Galaxy users so a trusted friend can locate a device for you.

• SmartTag+ – Keep tabs on the important things in life when on-the-go through Samsung SmartTag+, a Bluetooth powered tag which easily attaches to keys, bags, wallets or even the family pet so you no longer need to spend hours searching for things. SmartTag+ is simply activated through a tap on your mobile phone and you can follow the sound of your ringtone calling from the location of your SmartTag+ and lost item. With SmartThings Find, you can also share a SmartTag+ with friends and family so everyone can know where the car keys are.

• SmartThings Automation – Whether it’s making the lights turn on when a motion sensor detects movement or turning the TV on at 6pm every evening, with SmartThings Automation, you can make devices perform actions whenever predetermined conditions are met.

• SmartThings Cooking – Powered by Whisk, a smart food platform, SmartThings Cooking recommends personalised recipes based on your unique taste and preferences—as well as what’s on hand—to curate personalised recipe recommendations, so you can plan meals for your friends and family more efficiently. It also helps ensure that if you’re missing an ingredient you can easily order from major supermarkets to arrive when needed so helping ease any last-minute shopping hassles.